Tool inserts

ABSTRACT

A unit including a plurality of tool inserts, such as used in saw blades for use in woodworking. Each insert defines a working region and is adapted to be secured to a tool to present that region with a predetermined orientation. A body defines a plurality of discrete zones, each zone having an insert located therein such that the orientation of the working portion at each insert in the zone is the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to tool inserts.

[0002] Tool inserts in the form of PCD (polycrystalline diamond) tipswith a carbide backing are sold to saw blade manufacturers for use inthe woodworking industry. Such manufacturers have automatic brazingmachines for brazing the tips into pockets on a saw blade. The tips orsaw teeth need to be oriented correctly—usually with the PCD facing downand a chamfered end of the carbide going forward for this brazingoperation. Feeding of PCD saw teeth correctly oriented in a reliablemanner to the brazing machine is a major headache for saw blademanufacturers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] According to the present invention, a unit comprises:

[0004] a plurality of tool inserts, each insert defining a workingregion and being adapted to be secured to a tool to present that regionwith a predetermined orientation; and

[0005] a body defining a plurality of discrete zones, each zone havingan insert located therein such that the orientation of the workingportion of each insert in the zones is the same.

[0006] In one preferred form of the invention, the body is elongate inform and the zones are defined along the length of the body. The bodywill typically take the form of a tape.

[0007] The zones may be pockets or recesses in the body into which theinserts are placed.

[0008] The invention has particular application to tool inserts for sawblades which comprise a PCD layer bonded to a carbide backing, the PCDlayer providing the working region.

[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided acollection of tool inserts as described above in combination withapparatus such as brazing apparatus for securing the inserts to a tool.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0010] The drawing illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment ofthe invention.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0011] An embodiment of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawing. Referring to this drawing, alength of tape 10 has a plurality of pockets 12 formed along its length.The tape is coiled on to spindle 14. Located in each pocket 12 is a sawblade tip 18. Each saw blade tip 18 has a carbide backing 20 to which isbonded a PCD layer 22. The PCD layer is formed with a leading cuttingedge 24. The carbide backing 20 has a chamfered edge 26.

[0012] A saw blade tip 18 is located in each pocket 12 such that thecutting edge 24 of each tip 18 is located at the forward end 28 of thepocket and facing down and into the pocket as illustrated.

[0013] In use, the spindle 14 (which will generally form part of a reel)will be suitably mounted to a saw blade manufacturer's brazing machine.When it is necessary to braze tips to a saw blade, the tape will bemoved forward one pocket. As the tape moves forward one pocket, a covertape 30 is simultaneously peeled back from the pocket, exposing onecorrectly oriented saw blade tip. This is then picked up by a brazingmachine attachment and placed into the feeding track of the brazingmachine ready for brazing. When the tip 18 has been brazed intoposition, another pocket is moved forward and the process repeated.

1. A unit comprises: a plurality of tool inserts, each insert defining aworking region and being adapted to be secured to a tool to present thatregion with a predetermined orientation; and a body defining a pluralityof discrete zones, each zone having an insert located therein such thatthe orientation of the working portion of each insert in the zones isthe same.
 2. A unit according to claim 1 wherein the body is elongate inform and the zones are defined along the length of the body.
 3. A unitaccording claim 1 wherein the body takes the form of a tape.
 4. A unitaccording to claim 1 wherein the zones are pockets or recesses in thebody into which the inserts are placed.
 5. A unit according to claim 1wherein the tool inserts are for use with saw blades, each insertcomprising a PCD layer bonded to a carbide backing, with the PCD layerdefining the working region.
 6. A unit according claim 2 wherein thebody takes the form of a tape.
 7. A unit according to claim 2 whereinthe zones are pockets or recesses in the body into which the inserts areplaced.
 8. A unit according to claim 3 wherein the zones are pockets orrecesses in the body into which the inserts are placed.
 9. A unitaccording to claim 6 wherein the zones are pockets or recesses in thebody into which the inserts are placed.
 10. A unit according to claim 2wherein the tool inserts are for use with saw blades, each insertcomprising a PCD layer bonded to a carbide backing, with the PCD layerdefining the working region.
 11. A unit according to claim 3 wherein thetool inserts are for use with saw blades, each insert comprising a PCDlayer bonded to a carbide backing, with the PCD layer defining theworking region.
 12. A unit according to claim 4 wherein the tool insertsare for use with saw blades, each insert comprising a PCD layer bondedto a carbide backing, with the PCD layer defining the working region.13. A unit according to claim 6 wherein the tool inserts are for usewith saw blades, each insert comprising a PCD layer bonded to a carbidebacking, with the PCD layer defining the working region.
 14. A unitaccording to claim 7 wherein the tool inserts are for use with sawblades, each insert comprising a PCD layer bonded to a carbide backing,with the PCD layer defining the working region.
 15. A unit according toclaim 8 wherein the tool inserts are for use with saw blades, eachinsert comprising a PCD layer bonded to a carbide backing, with the PCDlayer defining the working region.
 16. A unit according to claim 9wherein the tool inserts are for use with saw blades, each insertcomprising a PCD layer bonded to a carbide backing, with the PCD layerdefining the working region.